Akathist to the Mother of God

Nurturer of Children


Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

O Heavenly King,
The Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
Who art everywhere and fillest all things,
Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life,
come and abide in us,
and cleanse us from every impurity,
and save our souls, O Good One.

Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the
ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master,
pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will
be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest: For Thine are the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

(Tone 8)
O Victorious Leader and Good Nurturer of the Christian race, we Thy servants,
delivered from evil, sing our grateful thanks to Thee. But as Thou hast invincible
might deliver our children from all dangers that with tears we may cry to Thee:
Raise our children to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, and make them
heirs of eternal blessings.

Ikos 1

Intercede with Thy Son and God, O most Holy One, that an angel from heaven be
sent to our children, just as to Thee was sent a most mighty protector, the Archangel
Gabriel; and vouchsafe us to cry to Thee thus:

Raise our children to be earthly angels.
Raise our children to be heavenly men.
Raise our children to be Thy servants.
Raise our children to cry out to Thee:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord with Thee!
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 2

As thou seest our parental entreaty for our children, begging help of Thee alone; do
Thou take them under Thine honorable and compassionate protection, that we may
cry to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Send our children understanding, that they may know how to serve Thee well; fill
their hearts with heavenly wisdom and grant that they may love it alone and scorn
the things of the world. Do not hinder our lips from crying such things as these:

Raise our children to be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.
Raise our children to have knowledge of good but not of sin.
Raise our children to be wise against the snares of the devil.
Raise our children to order their lives wisely, following the examples of the saints.
Raise our children, nourishing them with the milk of the hidden wisdom of God, that
they may seek it all of their lives.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 3

May the power of the Most High overshadow our children through Thine unceasing
intercession before Thy Son, and on account of this, having come to know Thy
maternal compassion towards all who run to God with faith, may they cry to God:
Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having received our children from God, we do not desire to behold them dwelling in
eternal torment, but rather to see them written in the Book of Life and made
inheritors of eternal life. For Thy sake, O Most Pure Virgin, incline Thine ear to our
supplication, as we cry to Thee:

Raise our children to flee eternal torment.
Raise our children to inherit life eternal.
Raise our children to pass the course of their life in Repentance.
Raise our children to labor to acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Raise our children to exert effort to attaint the Kingdom of Heaven.
Raise our children to be written in the Book of Life.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 4

Having within a tempest of doubting thoughts, and wanting to give our children to
drink of eternal life, we weep. Thus, having remembered Thy most rich mercies, we
sing to Thy Son with hope and with a contrite heart: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Having heard Thy voice, crying to Thy Son, Preserve in Thine inheritance those
whom Thou hast given me unto the ages, we stretch out our hands and our heart
towards Thy loving-kindness, entreating that Thou wilt keep our children among
Thy servants, and fulfill these our petitions:

Raise our children in thy most holy inheritance.
Raise our children with all Thy Saints.
Raise our children to be Thy servants, fulfilling all Thy commands.
Raise our children to seek help from Thee alone.
Raise our children to inherit eternal life.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.


Kontakion 5

May the Morning Star, which is Thy Son, O Most Holy Virgin, shine with unfading
light in the hearts of our children, that they may cry to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Having seen our diligent supplication rising like incense to Thy glory, turn not Thy
face away from our children, though they turn away from Thee, but all the more,
hear the cry of our lips, singing to Thee:

Raise our children to be poor in spirit, that they May inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Raise our children to weep, that they may be comforted.
Raise our children to be meek, that they may inherit the earth.
Raise our children to hunger and thirst after righteousness, that they may be filled.
Raise our children to be merciful, that they may obtain mercy.
Raise our children to be pure in heart, that they may see God.
Raise our children to be peacemakers, that they may be called the sons of God.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 6

All we the faithful ever proclaim Thee the defense of orphans, widows and mothers,
and of all Thy children who pray and cry out to Thee: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

With rays of grace teach our children so that enlightened by Thee on high they may
see they path leading to life eternal and follow on it, nourished beneath Thine all-
powerful protection in the Church of Thy Son where there is unending light. For the
sake of this, hear us who cry to Thee thus:

Raise our children to be the light of the world, that their light may shine before men,
and that seeing their good deeds, men will glorify their Father in Heaven.
Raise our children to be enlightened by Thy Son, that in His light they may see light
and direct their steps towards Him.
Raise our children always to turn the eyes of their heart to the Redeemer of all.
Raise our children to be guided to the habitation of the Righteous by the Morning
Star which is Thy Son.
Raise our children to be meek and silent and to tremble before the word of God.
Raise our children to love Thee and Thy Son not only with their minds but also with
their Hearts.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 7

Desiring for our children eternal salvation, with tears we stand before Thy most
honorable icon, O Lady, that disdaining not our supplication, thou wilt cry to Thy
Son: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

By the wonderous and incomprehensible action of Thy Son, lead our children with
Thy merciful hand beneath Thy gracious protection, that with sincerity we may cry
to Thee:

Raise our children to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Raise our children to walk the narrow way leading to life eternal.
Raise our children to do the will of Thy Son and God in every place.
Raise our children to long to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Raise our children to be numbered among Thy chosen ones.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 8

Where will our children, wandering in the greatly perilous and stormy valley of the
world, receive joy and consolation, if not in Thee, O Most Pure One. Travel with them
and teach them the true path, that they may cry to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

To all art Thou a merciful Mother, O Lady, and we desire that we may become Thy
children. Thus we place our children in Thy hands and in humility we beg of Thee:

Raise our children to keep vigil and pray that they may not fall into temptation.
Raise our children to be merciful so that their Father in Heaven will be merciful to
them.
Raise our children in purity of childhood, for to children belongs the Kingdom of
God.
Raise our children to be the least of all, that they may be great before God.
Raise our children to fulfill the Word of God, and to be partakers of the heavenly
blessedness for which they came into being.
Raise our children to have good hope in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.


Kontakion 9

Fill the souls and hearts of our children with all good, driving away from them the
spirit of evil atheism, giving to each of them as is needed from Thy compassion
toward all, that we may cry to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Deliver our children from association with falsely-theorizing orators, who speak lies
about Thine all-powerful intercession, and look upon us, faithfully singing:

Raise our children to love Thee with all their hearts and minds.
Raise our children to open their lips only in the praise and glory of Thy blessings.
Raise our children to await the coming of Thy Son with tears.
Raise our children in watchful and continual prayer.
Raise our children to stand always before Thee with reverence.
Raise our children to bear good fruit.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 10

Desiring to save the world, Thy Son came from heaven to call, not the righteous, but
sinners to repentance. For the sake, of this, pray to Thy Son that having been saved
through Thee our children may call to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Surround our children with indestructible walls, O Heavenly Queen, that under Thy
blessed protection, they may accomplish a multitude of good deeds, and that with
them we may cry to Thee thus:

Raise our children to be leaders in doing the will of Thy Son and God.
Raise our children to hate sin and all transgression.
Raise our children to love good and all virtue.
Raise our children in blameless purity.
Raise our children to ascent the ladder of their lives every day.
Raise our children to turn their eyes to Thy compassion in the midst of sorrows.
Raise our children to serve Thee in obedience and chastity.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 11

Make our children worthy always to hymn Thine unshakable intercession, and
through Thy grace direct their lips to sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

O Shining lamp from on high, make the lives of our children to burn and their hearts
to melt day and night with love for Thee, and Thy Son, and for their neighbors, and
disdain us not who cry to Thee:

Raise our children to love Thee with all their hearts and minds.
Raise our children to open their lips only in the praise and glory of Thy blessings.
Raise our children in watchful and continual Prayer.
Raise our children to stand always before Thee with reverence.
Raise our children to bear good fruit.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 12

Fill the hearts of our children with the inexpressible grace of the Holy Spirit, so that
they may love only Thy Son and God, and Thee, O Most Good One, that being
inspired by Thee, we may cry to the King of all: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing of Thy loving-kindness, we pray Thee, who feeds and hast mercy on our
children; cease not to intercede for them with Thy Son, for we believe that all is
possible for Thee, and do Thou fulfill these our entreaties:

Raise our children to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Raise our children to be found on the right hand at the Judgment Seat of Thy Son.
Raise our children to live in a holy manner.
Raise our children to dwell securely on the path of faith by the grace of the Spirit of
God.
Raise our children to hunger and thirst insatiably for the overshadowing of the Holy
Spirit.
Raise our children to perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect.
Raise our children, O Lady, to be made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and make them heirs of eternal blessings.

Kontakion 13

O All Hymned Mother of our Sweetest Jesus! Accept this small hymn of supplication
for our children as a sweet fragrance and take them under Thy compassionate
protection. Grant them to think, know, near, say and do, only that which brings them
close to Thee and Thy Son, and helps them attain eternal salvation. And send them
in this present life all that is profitable for the salvation of their souls, that they may
cry to God: Alleluia. Thrice.

(And again repeat, Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.)

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy Most Pure
Mother, hearken unto us, Thine unworthy servants. O Lord, govern in mercy
our children. Have mercy on them and save them, for Thy names sake.

O Lord, forgive them all their transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, that
they may be perfected before Thee. O Lord, set them on the true path of Thy
commandments and enlighten their minds with the Light of Christ unto
salvation of their souls and the healing of their bodies.

Bless them, O Lord, at home, at school, in their journeys and in every place of
Thy dominion. Preserve and shelter them, O Lord, from flying bullets, arrows,
the sword, poison and fire, from mortal wounds and sudden death. Guard
them, O Lord, from all visible and invisible enemies, and from all danger, evil
and misfortune.

Heal them O Lord, from all sickness, deliver them from every impurity, and
lighten their spiritual sufferings. Grant them, O Lord, the grace of Thy Holy
Spirit and a long life; grant them health and chastity in all piety and love, and to
live in accord with all their neighbors, near and far.

Multiply and strengthen them, O Lord, in mental ability and bodily strength,
given to them by Thee. Bless them to lead a pious life and, if it is pleasing to
Thee, grant them married life and honorable childbearing.

For Thy names sake, O Lord, give us, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, a
parental blessing for our children and Thy servants, both in this present time,
morning, noon and night, and also in Thine eternal, almighty and all-powerful
Kingdom. For Thine are the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the
Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of
ages.

Choir: Amen.


Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God and our Hope, glory to Thee.

Choir: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and
unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy (Thrice)
Father, bless.

Priest gives the small dismissal.

Choir: Amen.